Mound Laser Blog Library

Posted 5-2-2012

Laser Myth Busting #3: Nitinol versus Stainless Steel Hypotube Microcutting

Myth: True or False--Nitinol hypotube always provides superior flexibility and performance than stainless steel hypotube.

FALSE: Using a ND: YAG tube cutting system, Mound Laser demonstrates that using specific cut patterns in stainless steel hypotube will provide similar flexibility and performance as utilizing nitinol hypotube for the same application.

In our experiment, we show an application that is compatible with the aortic arch anatomy. Click the video below to view.

For some applications, the use of nitinol and stainless steel can be interchangeable. Often, stainless steel can be microcut to function in a similar manner as nitinol hypotube. Understanding the functional requirements of the hypotube are important in evaluating using stainless steel versus nitinol. Nitinol is typically chosen for its superelastic properties which enable the material to be navigated through tortuous anatomy. Because stainless steel does not have superelastic properties, it is often not considered as a material replacement for nitinol. However, using FEA analysis, Mound Laser has shown that in some cases when the superelastic properties of nitinol are not critical, a geometric cut pattern can be applied to stainless steel to provide equivalent product performance to nitinol applications. In these cases, companies can see a significant cost reduction in material without losing funtionality by substituting stainless steel in nitinol catheter products.

Another benefit of switching from nitinol to stainless steel is its increased weldability. If the product requires adhesive to be connected to another component, stainless steel hypotube may enable adhesive to be removed and replaced by laser welding. Through many prototype development projects, Mound Laser’s engineers have been able to substitute stainless steel hyptotube and experience no reduction in product performance. To find out if you application can benefit by switching materials, please contact Mound Laser.

 

Posted 3-29-2012

Laser Myth Busting #2: Micromachining Lasers & Oranges

Myth: True or False--A laser can peel an orange.

TRUE: Using a 355nm Nd:YVO4 nanosecond laser micromachining system, Mound Laser shows that the laser can precisely cut through an orange peel . The micromachining system can selectively ablate the organic material to a controlled depth of 5 microns. In the video, the laser was able to ablate a basketball shape through the peel and stop before reaching the inside of the orange. The laser parameters were set just above the ablation threshold of the orange peel. If the processing were done significantly above the ablation threshold there would be a significant amount of charring due to the excessive heat input into the material. For commercial applications, this ablation accuracy enables micromachining features with tight tolerances. Applications include hole drilling, thin film processing, and layer striping. End application examples are minimally invasive instruments and implants, micro air vehicle components, and surface texturing.

In our experiment, we proved that you can peel an orange with the laser. To see the video, please click the below.

Posted 2-9-2012

Laser Myth Busting #1: Ultrafast Lasers and Matches

Myth: Ultrafast femtosecond lasers always process materials athermally.

FALSE: Proper parameters are critical when athermally processing material. Specifically, the ablation threshold is key and varies by material. Understanding this parameter and how to process within the limit is critical to successful athermal processing.

As with any process, having the tool is only part of the solution. Mound Laser employs and trains scientists and engineers in the field of laser materials processing. The technical team uses these tools with a scientifically informed approach. The combination of state of the art laser tools and highly skilled scientists and engineers provide our customer with innovative solutions to their laser processing problems.

In the video below, two matches are used to disprove the laser myth. The video highlights how a change in laser settings can dramatically impact the effect of the laser on the material. Read more about ultrafast femtosecond laser processing on the laser micromachining page or press release page.